Literary Analysis

! very simple and easy because it just means sharing new insights about specific literary texts with other readers ! looking at what the author says and how he/she expresses it can lead you and your reader to better understanding and appreciation of the text ! analysis will develop your critical and independent thinking; exposure to beautiful language strengthens your writing skills

3. Read the text at least twice. First, read for comprehension, then a second time for analysis (also known as close reading). 4. Mark the text for easy reference. Annotate or write notes on Post-its and attach to the page margins, highlight or mark important sections.

How to Write

The same basic steps as writing essays are used: Pre-writing " thesis " get evidence " write " revise ! Purpose - share your insights about what you read - convey your interpretation of the texts meaning and significance - examine the themes and/or depiction critically - use textual evidence (quotes from/references to sections of the literary text) to support your opinion or analysis ! Audience - already familiar with the text - has read and understood it - no need to summarize for them! ! POV and Tone/Mood - 3rd person formal or 1st person objective - straightforward; critical and/or persuasive

Since literature deals with large and timeless issues, literary analysis is one way to learn more about yourself, others and life in general

How to Read
1. Form a general impression. What do you like or dislike about the text? What is the writer saying? Do you have a strong reaction to the text? Why or why not? 2. Ask yourself questions about the text. Focus on thematic concerns, values and attitudes found in the text and relate these to your own experience and beliefs.

PREWRITING
create a dominant impression generate ideas from that impression using techniques like mapping, brainstorming, listing, or free writing

AVOID general/facile statements on "reality," "emotions," and "life."

FORMULATE YOUR THESIS

thesis = subject/focus/theme/issue/element from the story + your opinion/analysis this is your main idea for the literary analysis, plus your dominant impression must be made clear early in your paper and reiterated at the end (restated w/ new words)

WRITING AND DRAFTING

use present tense, not past tense because text (and events in it) continues to exist after it written/read) identify the text properly > use latest MLA format (see dianahacker.com) > include titles of works, books, pages, etc. > poems, songs and story titles are in quotes > novels, plays, films, and CD titles are italicized > use proper punctuation - ellipsis () for omitted sections - slash (/) for line breaks in poetry - double slash (//) for end of stanza in poetry > use block quote and single spacing if the quoted material takes up 4 or more lines in your paper

Avoid the Big Thesis Mistakes!

# a simplistic thesis says nothing new or exciting $ give reasons/effects, identify parallels/patterns # a narrow thesis is too specific and says the obvious $ connect to a larger context by thinking of general situations and universal human experiences # a merely biographical or sociological thesis focuses only on the author or the theme or issue $ remember that your paper is a literary analysis that must talk about the text; formalism should always be your starting point

PAPER FORMAT
8.5 x 11 bond paper, 1 margin 12pt font size, Book Antiqua only half-inch indent at start, no space between s include WORD COUNT (Tools >> Word Count) 1.5 line space for essay, but top is single-spaced:

SUPPORT THESIS WITH EVIDENCE

make sure you really understand the story or poem make sure nothing in the text contradicts your thesis use quotes and examples from the text look for symbols, connections, repeating images

SURNAME, Name Middle Name Lit13R54 / Story Analysis Ms. Sandra Nicole Roldan August 29, 2009 1,000 words only Interesting Title is in Boldface, No Quote Marks This essay is going to be so clever and well-researched that its going to get an A. It uses textual evidence from Cynthia Ozicks The Shawl and the follow-up novella entitled Rosa. This paper will also use the latest MLA format downloaded as a PDF file from dianahacker.com.

ORGANIZE EVIDENCE
look for patterns; use rhetorical techniques like definition, comparison, contrast, classification, division, process analysis, illustration, etc.